Microsoft Corp., maker of the Xbox video game console, unveiled its Kinect motion control feature, which lets users play by moving their bodies.

The company demonstrated the technology, previously known as Project Natal, together with several game titles in a University of Southern California basketball arena yesterday. More details of the gadget, which also supports video chat, will be offered at Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft’s press conference today.

Microsoft’s first motion-sensing games come four years after Nintendo Co. started selling the Wii motion-sensing system, which helped the Kyoto-based company take the lead in console sales. Sony Corp., maker of the Playstation 3 console, will demonstrate its Move motion-controller this week.

Nintendo sold 277,200 Wii consoles in the U.S. in April, compared with shipments of 185,400 Xbox 360s and 180,800 PlayStation 3s, according to NPD Group Inc.